Morphology and electrostatics play active role in neuronal differentiation processes on flexible conducting substrates

Abstract

This commentary discusses and summarizes the key highlights of our recently reported work entitled "Neuronal Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Neuronal Progenitors Can Be Regulated by Stretchable Conducting Polymers." The prospect of controlling the mechanical-rigidity and the surface conductance properties offers a unique combination for tailoring the growth and differentiation of neuronal cells. We emphasize the utility of transparent elastomeric substrates with coatings of electrically conducting polymer to realize the desired substrate-characteristics for cellular development processes. Our study showed that neuronal differentiation from ES cells is highly influenced by the specific substrates on which they are growing. Thus, our results provide a better strategy for regulated neuronal differentiation by using such functional conducting surfaces.

Keywords: cell differentiation; conducting polymers; electrostatics; neuronal cells; stretched substrates.

Figure 1. Differentiation of ES-NPs on PEDOT:PSS/SEBS substrates (typical substrate shown on top-center [A]). The differentiation of neuronal progenitors and spreading of the differentiated neurons is strongly governed by the arrangement of conducting PEDOT domains in the PSS matrix which is controlled by uniaxial strain on these substrates as shown in the schematic (B) PEDOT domains interspersed in PSS matrix (C) Stretching of PEDOT:PSS/SEBS substrates leads to the elongation of PEDOT domains. These dispersed domains assume elliptical shape in the direction of stretching. (D) Differentiation of ES-NPs on PEDOT:PSS/SEBS substrates leads to evenly dispersed cells with many small aggregates. (E) Differentiation of ES-NPs on stretched PEDOT:PSS/SEBS substrates leads to the formation of larger cell aggregates and reduced cell spreading.